The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing personalized chip cards containing an at least partly flat surface for visible application of data and an integrated circuit with memory. The problem of the invention is to state a method and apparatus for avoiding the abovementioned disadvantages, i.e. further reducing the reject rate in personalizing chip cards. This problem is solved by personalizing the integrated circuits and the card bodies separately from each other and subsequently incorporating the personalized circuit in the personalized card body.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for producing personalized chip cards containing an at least partly flat surface for visible application of data and an integrated circuit with memory, the data stored in the memory being correlated with the data visibly applied to the card body, characterized in that the integrated circuits and the card bodies are personalized separately from each other and the personalized circuit is subsequently incorporated in the personalized card body.
2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the integrated circuits are embedded in modules and disposed on a carrier band which supplies them to a multicontact station in which a given number of modules are simultaneously tested, initialized and personalized.
3. A method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the circuits are tested again after personalizing.
4. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the module carrier band is transported further to a punching apparatus, the modules are punched out of the carrier band and passed on to an implanting apparatus for insertion into the card body.
5. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that, before personalization, the card blanks are placed on a pallet which is provided with a code allocated to the personalizing data records in the order of successfully personalized circuits, and the card bodies are personalized in the order in which personalized circuits are present.
6. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that a magnetic stripe is inscribed with personal data before or after personalization of the card body.
7. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that a check of proper allocation and/or a functional test of the chips or modules is performed after insertion of the personalized circuit into the personalized card body.
8. A method according to claim 7 , characterized in that, for the check, data are read out of the chip and checked for proper allocation to the pallet code.
9. A method according to claim 7 , characterized in that, for the check, data are read out of the chip and compared with the data applied to the card surface.
10. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the completely personalized data carriers are deposited in a sort buffer in the order given by the data records, and subsequently stacked in a magazine.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 17, 1999
November 26, 2002
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